Wiltonians Carol and George Bauer keep 'I Have A Dream' alive

By TOM EVANS Villager Staff Writer

Published
4:00 am EDT, Wednesday, July 23, 2014

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Wilton residents Carol and George Bauer were recently presented with the “I Have A Dream” award for their generous efforts as part of the Foundation College Scholarship Awards Ceremony. The “I Have A Dream” initiative offers scholarship funding for residents of the Norwalk Housing Authority.

WILTON — Carol and George Bauer did not have to look far for the motivation to get involved with the “I Have A Dream” program 16 years ago.

“It was two good families, that gave, gave, gave of food and what they could,” Carol Bauer said of parents and her in-laws. “We grew up with that philosophy. ‘It’s better to give than receive.’”

What the Bauers set out to do in 1998 was to give 22 children in grades 2 through 7 from the Norwalk Housing Authority’s Washington Village development — one of the oldest in the state — an opportunity for better lives.

The program supported the “Dreamers,” as they were called when Eugene Lang founded the national “I Have A Dream” initiative in 1981, with after-school academic help and mentoring through their primary and secondary education, and strategic planning for their future — including college or career certification alternatives.

On Friday, the Norwalk Housing Authority presented the Bauers with an “I Have A Dream” award for their generous efforts as part of the Foundation College Scholarship Awards Ceremony.

The ceremony took place at Stepping Stones Museum For Children, Mathews Park, 303 West Ave., in Norwalk.

The Bauers “Dream” began in Chicago, where George worked for IBM and met someone involved with IHAD.

“We moved a lot for George’s work, and we moved to New Canaan in 1976,” Bauer said. “We lived there for 33 years. I was very involved with Norwalk Hospital since 1978. We moved to Wilton five years ago, and we love Wilton. We’re meant to be here. We’re glad to be here.”

Those 22 young Washington Village residents are too, although two of them moved to Florida before completing high school in Norwalk, leaving the project with a 91 percent successful-completion rate.

Those headed for higher education earned roughly $200,000 in scholarships.

“Norwalk Hospital sits among some of the wealthiest homes around, and some poor homes,” Bauer said. “It makes sense “I Have A Dream” works in Norwalk. You had a choice to take a class (in school) or a housing project, and George took Washington Village. There were 43 kids originally, but 22 signed up and stayed with it. Some didn’t want the discipline of mentoring.”

Bauer explained that Mondays through Friday, during the month of July, were spent in schoolwork at West Rocks and Norwalk Community College, while the afternoons were slated for tennis, music and drama.

“Mornings were all academics because these children lose so much in the summer because they are not challenged to put their learning to use,” Carol said. “Friday was a field trip — twice to the Audubon Group, once to Six Flags, and another trip was to the Garbage Museum in Bridgeport. It’s fascinating to show kids how things are recycled, and how so much of what we use and discard is connected.”

Bauer also praised the Maritime Center for being “tremendously helpful” with programs and resources.

“Children loved the Maritime,” Bauer said. “We took them there twice a week. They studied specimens, and some children even learned wood craft and made two boats that they took out on (Long Island) Sound. We also got great support from local role models, like the police and fire chiefs, and ethnic role models from the area.”

The only negative through these 16 years was the death of Brien McMahon High School graduate James “Kuta” Shaw in June, 2012, a three-sport standout who was described as larger than life.

“Because we had so much faith in him, we sent him to prep school in Maine,” Bauer said. “We’re so sorry about (James). Everybody loved that kid.”

Bauer said better news comes in the form of the four bachelor’s and one associate’s degrees Dreamers earned this May — from Temple University, University of Maryland-Eastern Shore, Benedict College, St. Joseph (West Hartford), and the associate’s that will send a student on to Sacred Heart University in Fairfield.

“We also had someone earn a degree in massage therapy, three certified nurse’s aides, with two of them working as technicians at (Norwalk) Hospital,” Bauer said. “One of the aides now works with Visiting Nurse and Hospice in Wilton. I asked about her, and people said everyone asks for her and loves her. She’s a big girl, so she can lift almost anybody.”

Bauer made it clear that this was by no means a hand-out or easy road to a high school diploma or college tuition.

“We were mentoring these kids every day after school, and we will always be glad we did it,” Bauer said.

“The ‘I Have A Dream’ program commits to a class or a housing project, and we commit to those children. They have to commit to the program,” Bauer said. “We gave them a year after high school, and still support them in the program, but we’re not going to drag it out for five years.”

What it boils down to for this philanthropic couple is pretty simple.

“All of them will be better citizens and better human beings because of this program,” Bauer said. “Someone hinted to George — he’s been on the Housing Authority board — that he was getting an award, and we are very pleased,” she said.

“It’s been a good journey. We love these kids. If these kids made it through the program, that’s all we can hope. We don’t do it for recognition. If we did, we’d have stopped a long time ago.”

Those 20 achievers are thankful the Bauers kept the Dream alive for 16 more years.

For more information about the Norwalk Housing Authority’s “I Have A Dream” initiative, visit them on the web at www.norwalkha.org.